The Lone Cone Legacy Trust (LCLT), a local endowment fund benefiting Norwood and the Wright’s Mesa area, is now accepting applications for its 2025 Community Grants. Local nonprofits, taxing districts and community organizations with a fiscal sponsor are welcome to apply. A downloadable application form is available online at loneconelegacy.org, along with an explanation of the grant criteria. LCLT grants are focused on greater Wright’s Mesa, including Norwood, Redvale and surrounding communities. The trust gives special consideration to organizations that serve the youth of this area.
Since its inception, the trust has disbursed $178,822 in annual grants and direct pass-through distributions. Also, a fund toward the establishment of a future swimming pool in Norwood now contains $221,360. And, the endowment and its capacity to give are growing.
“Thanks to the wonderful generosity of our many donors, we have been able to increase our annual grants every year. This year, we will add $5,000 to last year’s total, allowing us to distribute a record $25,000 this year,” said board treasurer Emily Haight.
The application deadline to apply is Sept. 2. Organizations that have received grants in past years are encouraged to re-apply this time around. For those that have been previously rejected, or those with any questions about how to properly fill out an application, LCLT board members urge representatives to send an email to loneconelegacytrust@gmail.com.
The trust will announce the recipients of the 2025 Community Grants at its annual Harvest Celebration Dinner on Oct. 11 at the Livery, located at 1555 Summit St. in Norwood. This event is a neighborly salute to local communities and their people, featuring a buffet-style dinner prepared by local caterers, along with silent and live auctions, plus live music by the Telluride Gold Kings. Dancing is encouraged, of course.
“Everybody loves the Gold Kings,” said trust board member George Lewis. “We guarantee the joint will be jumping.”
Established in 2013, the Lone Cone Legacy Trust strives to bolster community and economic development in greater Wright’s Mesa. LCLT is a permanent, locally-controlled endowment fund aimed at serving the area for many years to come. The organization’s official motto is “Bringing a bright future to Wright’s Mesa.”
LCLT’s board members include Andrew Kauffmann (chair), Sheila Grother (secretary), Emily Haight (treasurer), Gretchen Wells, C.J. Watt, Jenny Wheeler, Lisa Foxwell, George Lewis, Caroline Graham, Tristan James and Annika Kristiansen. April Montgomery, of the Telluride Foundation, also serves as an ex-officio member of the board.
The work of the trust has been made possible through the efforts of the committed volunteers, as well the contributions of partner organizations, including the Telluride Foundation, which manages the fund’s investment portfolio.
The Lone Cone Legacy Trust depends on the generosity of its donors. The board encourages people to visit loneconelegacy.org/ways-to-donate to learn about how to contribute. For further information about the Lone Cone Legacy Trust’s history and its work, the public may reach out to loneconelegacytrust@gmail.com via email, look for the organization on Facebook, or visit the trust’s website.
